Moner Anonde Joler Gaan: A journey to the roots

Growing up in a village, I had the privilege of attending many baul and folk concerts. Those shows had a distinct setting—the audience sitting cross-legged on mats before the artists, immersed in the raw and unfiltered energy of the music.

Folk music has had quite a hold on me over the years, so when Joler Gaan's concert was announced, it instantly sparked a wave of nostalgia in me. 

Organised by Noor's Event, the concert, 'Moner Anonde Joler Gaan' took place at The Attention Network, located in Karwan Bazar's Dhaka Trade Centre. 

Joler Gaan, a folk-fusion band, has become a renowned name in the music industry, particularly because of how they combine culture with innovation. They manage to keep the core essence of folk music through their instruments, while delivering entirely new songs. For people like me who crave feeling a connection with my roots, their music has become a solace. 

As the audience entered the venue, they had to take a seat on the quilts laid down on the floor. I took my seat, cross-legged. And just like that, I was transported back to the old days, through the mix of ambience and the melody of Joler Gaan's music. 

The show opened with a poem by Shumi Noor, founder of Noor's Event. The recitation, along with the emotions woven into the poem, set the tone for the evening. It truly offered a journey back to our roots.

Taking the stage, Kanak Aditya took us on a ride to the pre-Joler Gaan era—the time when the band did not exist, yet their songs did. 

Even if you came in as a new listener to get a taste of folk-fusion music, you probably left with a pocket full of stories. Before each song, Aditya took a minute to talk about the stories behind the songs, and how the casual jamming sessions gave way to the band the nation now loves so dearly. 

The journey back to the band's past started with the song, 'Golabi Golabi Chadni Re'—an unreleased song that was written for Prachyanat, a Dhaka-based theatre group. 

Although I've had the privilege of attending their concerts before, each performance still feels like a fresh experience, as if I'm hearing them for the first time.

Those who have been to a Joler Gaan concert at least once know the energy they bring to the stage—especially the quirky moves and expressions of Mallik Yishorja. Friday's event was no exception at all.

Innima Roshni Himi, also just known as Innima, was undoubtedly the highlight of the night. Even though she is relatively new to the band, her chemistry with the rest seemed to come to her naturally. 

Innima's roots were shrouded with folk music, which contributed to her outstanding performance on the stage. Playing the violin, whistling a bit from time to time, adding a different feminine touch with a voice that perfectly goes with the genre—the addition could not be better.

Having multiple vocals in a team gives Joler Gaan another edge—that is, the energy never drops. Although Kanak led the show, Yishorja and Innima took over from time to time.

The energy of the music was contagious, and the seniors sitting across the room were not spared. As they began playing the song, 'Roshik Je Jon' began to play, everyone moved to rhythm–that is the kind of energy the song's nostalgia brings. 

After all, it is a well-known song among folk-lovers, and Joler Gaan's iteration of it only added to the hype around it. 

But I believe I will never forget the moment they played the song, 'Ektu Boshiya Thako'. The harmony among the crowd was unmatched as everyone joined the band, singing along. 

At the end of the performance, the sound of the instruments lingered, giving us all a moment to appreciate the raw sound of live music. 

As expected from a Joler Gaan concert, 'Bokul Phool' was the showstopper. The concluding instrumental outro gave the audience goosebumps—something to feel for a while, even after the show ended.

The band performed a total of 20 songs—all while effortlessly maintaining the energy from first to last. Although the thirst of the audience remained unquenched—they wanted more. Keeping that for another day, the show ended with a haze of contentment and longing.